중국의 전통문화 재해석과 현대적 활용- 閩南의 관우 문화를 중심으로

Abstract

The worship of Guan Yu originally originated from the Central Plains region, but it spread to the Minnan regions through immigrants from Central Plains region. Initially, Guan Yu was revered in a similar manner to Central Plains region, being regarded as a god of war, wealth, and protection against evil spirits. However, over time, distinct characteristics emerged that differentiated it from other regions. Influenced by the local context of the Minnan region, the worship of Guan Yu developed its own unique features. Due to the significant reliance on the sea for livelihoods and the large population of overseas migrants, the worship of the sea god was added, and due to historical events involving migration, Guan Yu became a ancestral god in this place. Additionally, due to the high proportion of the population engaged in maritime trade, the divine protection of merchants and wealth took on particular importance here. In ancient times, the people of the Minnan region found spiritual solace and sought to maintain unity and cohesion within their communities through the worship of Guan Yu. The culture of worshiping Guan Yu, which has been sustained for centuries, remains prevalent in the Minnan region to this day. However, since the era of reform and opening up, the worship of Guan Yu has not merely remained a folk belief or religion but has been encompassed within the category of traditional culture to be promoted and preserved. This is because the culture of Guan Yu worship proves useful for addressing various issues faced by government authorities, including politics and the economy. The Minnan region, including Taiwan, has a high degree of cultural similarity with the Han Chinese and overseas Chinese. Moreover, Guan Yu devoted his life to the restoration of the Han dynasty or the unification of the empire under Yu Bei. Additionally, many ancestral shrines in the Minnan region are the ancestral temples of numerous shrines located across the sea. With these elements, the Guan Yu worship culture in the Minnan region proves to be significant in economic, political, and diplomatic aspects. Recognizing this, the Chinese government has adopted a different perspective on the worship of Guan Yu in the Minnan region since the era of reform and opening up. It has categorized it as traditional culture, attenuating its religious connotations, and reinterpreting it as a beneficial means for economic and political ends. As China undergoes changes in its political, economic, cultural, and social environments, the Guan Yu culture in the Minnan region is perceived differently and holds implications that distinguish it from the past. An example of modern utilization of Minnan Guan Yu culture is the Cross-Strait (Fujian Dongshan) Guan Di Cultural Tourism Festival, which has been conducted based on a reinterpretation of Guan Yu culture since the era of reform and opening up. The cultural festival is composed of programs ranging from religious ceremonies to cultural events in music and art, economic activities such as trade fairs and investment forums, and exchange activities between organizations from both sides. In recent years, there has been a trend towards overtly emphasizing cross-strait unification through the themes of the cultural festival.